I’ve been using the original prototype for my Ultimate Market Bag for well over a decade now and it easily could double as a beach bag! But I’ve been wanting to try out a more rectangular bag shape and since we’re currently living not too far from the west coast, I decided it was high time to design a new bag!

This one uses a lighter weight yarn so that I could create more real estate for the filet crochet stitches, which allows for greater customization options, including adding words or short phrases! I chose Hello Summer and Beach Please, but you can swap these words out for anything else you’d like (so long as it fits, of course!) or even just do a simple geometric pattern instead. See my size 2 sample in Coral for an example!

The pattern itself includes the chart used for my original Hello Summer size 4 sample. You’ll also find blank charts for all 4 sizes and 2 alphabets to choose from in the Appendix file; additionally, I’ve included a link in the pattern to a copy of the Excel file via Google Sheets so that you can download a copy and create your own custom chart on your computer! There is also photo tutorial support within the pattern for working the corners at the bottom of the bag (we work from the bottom up) as well as for how I rejoin the fsc straps to the body of the bag for the fully integrated handles.

STITCHES & TECHNIQUES:

• Single crochet
• Double crochet
• Foundation single crochet
• Decreases (defined in pattern)
• Increases (defined in pattern)
• Invisible join (optional)
• Standing sc
• Chainless dc (optional)

GAUGE:

24 sts and 28 rows in sc = 4” (10 cm) unblocked.

SIZES:

Instructions are written for bags in 4 different widths and either a 4” (10 cm) depth for the two smaller bags or a 6.5” (16.5 cm) depth for the two larger bags. Hello Summer sample is size 4.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4)

Measurements: 8 (12, 16, 20)” / 20 (30, 40, 50) cm wide by 4 (4, 6.5, 6.5)” / 10 (10, 16.5, 16.5) cm deep (flat bottom footprint worked in rows).

All bags will measure about 6” (15 cm) wider when laid flat.

SUGGESTED MATERIALS:

• Hampton by Cascade Yarns ® in 2 colors (100 g, 273 yds / 250 m), DK (3: light) yarn, 70% pima cotton and 30% linen, 1 (1+, 2, 2+) skeins C1 and 1+ (2+, 2+, 3+) skeins C2
• D/3 (3.25 mm) crochet hook
• stitch marker(s)
• scissors
• darning needle

Size 4 sample used 2 skeins C1 (Ecru) and 3 skeins C2 (Opal).
Size 2 sample used 1 skein C1 (Coral) and 2 skeins C2 (Ecru).

Be sure to round up and get an extra skein if you think you might want extra wide straps or to do a denser filet crochet stitch pattern. My size 2 sample used every bit of those 3 skeins!

This design was originally released in 4 parts in a CAL and you can find additional resources in the blog posts below:

Step 1: Flat Bottom
Step 2: Rounding out Bottom & Starting Sides
Step 3: Filet Crochet Body
Step 4: Handles/Straps

Pattern was tech edited by Catherine Whelan.

I invite and encourage you to sell any items made from my patterns; I simply ask that you credit me for the design, especially if listing online, by linking back to the source of the pattern. Copying, redistributing, or selling the pattern itself or a derivative thereof is strictly prohibited.